Sara walked through the familiar path of the mountains. Whenever she was in trouble, she would find herself taking occasional walks up the slope. She knew the mountains like the back of her hand, Sara might've been living amongst humans for years but she was still a Tengu, the desire for the mountains run through her veins.
Sara had seen many creatures in the mountains not often told in human tales. Among them are many fierce and evil things, but there are also little creatures that mean no harm. To Sara, however, these are just differences in form.
She carried a basket of lemons and other fruits in her hand, it was a habit she had grown into after a little accident with the mischievous bake-danukis. On her way up the slope, she would often pass their lair, dropping of the basket filled with fruits. It was no means a gift, if she had to describe it... then perhaps a sort of consolation to those who had turned from an unrighteous path might be the best description for such things.
The procession with the Vision Hunt Decree had not been moving as smoothly as she hoped. Many citizen were not happy with the Shogun's decision. Chaos and unease had spread across the land like a plague, more people were starting to stand up against the Shogunate, causing ruckus all over the city.
What was worse is that the people of Watatsumi Island had started a resistance against the Vision Hunt Decree, led by the Priestess Sangonomiya Kokomi. Her head hurt just by thinking about it.
Sara unconsciously fiddled with the vision strapped near her hip, it was precisely because she possessed a Vision that Sara knew this better than anyone: her surviving that fall unscathed in the mountains that night was due to the Archon looking upon her with favor in that instant.
In but a single glance, she had been given the power that sustained her life.
Everything she had, therefore, could be described as existing by the Almighty Shogun's grace.
Fighting for the Shogun...
Sara believed that this was neither her duty nor a result of her foster father's schemes, but was instead her truest calling.
Her head snapped up at the sudden rustle of leaves near her left, she moved to inspect what had caused the suspicious movement. Her neck cramped up, finding herself staring at a very huge oni, clutching for dear life at the tree, hand reaching out for the onikabuto, tongue struck out in pure determination as a single drop of sweat rolled down the side of his face. Sara watched, amused by his strange antics. She could tell by his posture that he was bound to fall any second now.
And so, she did something uncharacteristic of her. She addressed someone outside her job as a General.
"What are you doing?"
The oni was surprised out of his wits by the sudden voice underneath him, his sweaty palms slipping from the trunk as he pummelled down on the ground with a yelp, a sight Sara was getting used to.
The Oni always fell whenever the Tengu was around.
The Oni begrudgingly stood up, his hand rubbing on his sore behind as he glared whoever dared to surprise him. He must admit, they were an admirable foe for managing to catch him by surprise.
His eyes settled on the woman that stood proudly before him, her attire is primarily black and white, with hints of mauve, red and gold. The Kujou Clan crest adorns various parts of her outfit. Her Electro Vision can be seen on a yellow bow attached to her belt, from which hangs a decorative black and white yuigesa. On the side of her head lies a red tengu mask that resembles a crow's face, having white accents, a black crest, and a hexagonal piece resembling a tokin. She also wears red and gold tengu-geta sandals.
He was startled to realize that it was the Tengu Warrior that stood before him, Kujou Sara of the Tenryou Commission.
"Well, if it isn't the Kujou Tengu. What do I owe this honour of a sudden visit?" His red eyes settled upon her, hands firmly planted on his hips as he give her a shit eating grin. "Finally came to take my vision? Well, I'm down! That is, after you beat me in a challenge!"
Sara raised her brow, noting that some things still hasn't changed. The Oni was still hungry for games and challenges.
"I must say that I shall refuse. There has been no order to seize your's yet. But I do promise that when it comes to it, I will personally take it from you." She smirked.
The Oni let out a ridiculous snort, "Ha! As if! I should let you know that I am the head honcho of the Arataki Gang, and everyone knows my name...s. Names, I have many. Arataki "The One and Oni" Itto, Arataki "The Oni Sumo King" Itto, Arataki "The Pride of Oni" Itto, Arataki "Beetle Gladiator" Itto, Arataki "The Ultimate TCG Champion" Itto,
Arataki "He Might Lose but He'll Never Admit Defeatto"...Anyway, these are some of the ones I usually go by, so go ahead, take your pick. I'll respond to whichever one you choose, I promise. Hehe, you're welcome." He boasted, unaware that the Tengu had already walked away the moment he started rambling. Sara didn't have to stay to listen since she had already acquired his name months prior.
When he opened his eyes and found himself talking to thin air, he sputtered and looked around frantically, "Hey!"
Itto quickly caught up to the retreating Tengu with a quick bounce on his long legs. "So, have you caught my name?"
Sara gave him a sideway glance, uninterested. "...Who were you again?"
Itto's face fumed in anger, he had spoken a whole speech about his name and she had the audacity to not pay attention?! He even let her choose any type she wanted! "Ugh! Kujou Tengu, pay attention! If I must repeat again—!"
The Oni was silenced with a delicate, yet strong hand on his face, crimson eyes narrowing down on the callused palm, no doubt from years of training. "I do not need a repeat of your nonsense names...idiotic oni."
One corner of her lips quirked up, amused that the white haired oni was easily riled up. Sara was not one to provoke others without reason, but she found herself an exception. There was something humorous about getting on the Oni's furious nerves.
"I-Idiotic Oni?!" He sputtered, as if he couldn't believe she had dared to call him that straight to his face.
The Tengu easily ignored him, continuing with her walk on the mountain. Itto followed suit, rambling beside her about the greatness and the importance of his name, which went on deaf ears.
After a whole thirty minute of mindless talking, Itto had finally given up, crossing his arms furiously. It was as clear as day that his words weren't getting to her.
He eyed her at the corner of his eyes, wondering why a General of the Shogunate like her was doing up in the mountains. Itto then briefly recalled a certain Tengu from his childhood who had preferred the mountains as well, maybe it was a Tengu sort of thing.
Itto decided to break the silence once again by a statement of his own. "Kujou Sara, you're a Tengu..." He started reluctantly.
Sara internally rolled her eyes, deciding to response. "What exactly gave me away?"
"Well, you're called the Tengu Warrior." He stated, totally oblivious by the sarcasm in her voice. "Is there, by chance, you know other Tengus?"
His words caught her interest, "No."
Itto frowned, "So you're the only Tengu around here now?"
"Not that I know of. Why the sudden inquiry?"
Itto remained silent, contemplating before deciding on a simple answer before laughing it off. "It's nothing!"
Sara briefly entertained the idea that he might be reminiscing about her, the little tengu on the mountains who had disappeared. She wondered if the Oni ever came back to check on her. But such thoughts did not matter now.
She shook her head before leaving the mountains, not once did she spare another glance towards the Oni, leaving him to his own devices. Her private life did not matter to her now. The oni was a part of her past, and that was simply it, a history.
She was now a General to the Shogunate Army, she had no reason to cling to the past. Sara would only focus for her present from now on, and making sure that the future is what the Shogun wanted it to be.
What her excellency's desires was everything for Kujou Sara.
~~~
Sara watched with bated breath as Kurosawa Kyounosuke's vision was seized from him. He was a member of the Tenryou Commission, his vision taken after he was dismissed for his "poor" performance.
She had seen countless of people by far to lose their vision, and the effects were immediate, a sudden change would pass upon the wielder by the lose of their vision. It's as if they had forgotten their ambitions and what made them strive harder, like a memory loss of some sort.
Sara could not confidently say that Kyounosuke was at fault for losing his vision. He was a member of the Shogunate Army, it was his responsibility to act accordingly and do better at his job, it was his own actions that led him through what had happened today, but a part of Sara knew within herself that it was no excuse to take one's ambitions.
She clenched her fists, chastising herself for doubting the Shogun's decision to seize the visions.
To other's it may not seem much, but to her—to them, who was granted and acknowledged by the Gods, it went beyond a simple matter.
Sara reminded herself that this was for the best, for this was the Shogun's will. She would not dare question the Shogun nor her plans for Inazuma, after all, she only did what was best for her people.
If the time comes, she too, will willingly offer her vision to the Statue of the Thousand-Armed, Hundred-Eyed God.
~~~
Today was the day she promised him. It was the day where she would take his vision from him. Sara approached with confident steps, watching the oni beat her soldiers along with his gang. He confidently sat down on the back of one of the soldiers, taunting them for not even being able to land a scartch on his person.
The Oni must've heard her approaching, for he turned his head over his shoulder, a shit eating grin on his marked face. "Ah! Nice of you to join us, General Kujou." He shot her a smirk, "Are you here to make me beg for mercy too?"
She braced her shoulders, bow in hand as she shot him a stern glare. "Final warning. Surrender your vision now, Arataki Itto."
He let out a laugh, pushing himself off the fallen shoulder, swinging his claymore over his shoulder. "Oh, but General, if you join the Arataki Gang now..." He approached her with confident strikes, waving his hand forward in a challenge. "I can show you what dreams are made of."
Once again, Sara mentally rolled her eyes at the lame response. Jerking her head at the soldiers by her side, they took it as a sign to attack the Arataki Gang. Sara drew back her arm, aiming at Arataki Itto.
Never in her dreams did she ever thought that she would get to fight the Oni once again. But this time, things were different. They were no longer the scrawny brats they used to be, they were older, more mature—well in her case, only she grew up into an adult while the oni stayed as a child. Now, the both of them had experience in fighting, and they did not use their arms and fists, but with weapons.
Before the day ended, Kujou Sara confidently walked back towards the Tenryou Commission, geo vision in her hands that she had grabbed from his collar.
~~~
(A/N: I was debating with posting today since I told myself this fanfic schedule would be daily updates till I finish it. But some friends are pro at distracting me and making me procrastinate, therefore my mind made up with excuses that I can always just post tomorrow, but I was like, I'm already doing this, might as well go through with it before laziness slap me across the face. I didn't write a fighting scene simply because I'm bad at actual writing down words to describe a fight, not only is it difficult and hard to explain properly, it's extremely boring and it's hard to imagine actual fights while reading, it's better if you actually visualize it. Anyways, what's important is that at the end of the day, Sara won and she was able to take it from Itto like stealing a candy from a child. On second note...Idk if I just complimented and insulted both at the same time XD
Also, I've been writing here at Ff itself and I'm not really familiar with it yet but somehow whenever I save my progress and I come back to it the spaces are gone its extremely frustrating and makes me do additional work. I hope I figure it out soon.)